Bruce Gamble
| Bruce Gamble | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 Port Arthur |
| Died | 1982 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | 1938–1956 |
Bruce George Gamble (May 24, 1938 – December 29, 1982) was a professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1962 and 1972, with some stints in the minor leagues during that time.[1]
Thunder Bay connections
Bruce George Gamble was born on May 24, 1938, in Port Arthur. He played three seasons with the Port Arthur Bruins of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League between 1953 and 1955, and in 1955–56 backstopped the Port Arthur North Stars to a berth in the Memorial Cup. He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.
Newspaper record
- Birthday notice in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 1949-05-25.[2]
- Recorded as occurring 24 May 1949.
- Index note: 11.
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Bruce Gamble was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 as an athlete (ceremony date given as 29 September 1984), for hockey.[3]
Raised in Port Arthur, Gamble began his competitive career as a teenager in the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League. He played for the Port Arthur Bruins from 1953 to 1955 before joining the Port Arthur North Stars for the 1955-56 campaign. He then moved to the Ontario Hockey Association, where he spent two seasons with the Guelph Biltmores. In 1958, he joined the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens for a postseason run that resulted in winning the Memorial Cup. Known for an acrobatic and unconventional style rather than the standard stand-up technique, he transitioned to the professional ranks despite a stout physical build.[3]
Gamble made his professional debut during the 1957-58 season with the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League, winning his only appearance. The next year, he played 65 games for the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Hockey League, recording 29 wins and seven shutouts. His performance earned him the WHL Rookie of the Year award and a selection to the Second All-Star Team. During that same season, he made his National Hockey League debut by appearing in two games for the New York Rangers. In 1959, the Boston Bruins acquired him through the Intra-League Draft.[3]
Following several years split between the minor leagues and the Boston Bruins, Gamble spent the 1962-63 season with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Eastern Professional Hockey League. He served as the primary goaltender for the Frontenacs as they captured the league championship. After further time in the minors, he secured a regular role in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, serving as their main starter for three seasons between 1967 and 1970. In 1968, he represented the team at the NHL All-Star Game in Toronto, where he was named the most valuable player.[3]
In the middle of the 1970-71 season, Gamble was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. His career came to an abrupt end the following year after he suffered a heart attack during a game, which necessitated his retirement from hockey. Over a 14-year professional career, he appeared in 679 games. He was notable for being one of the final professional goaltenders to play without a protective facemask and was one of the few players from Northwestern Ontario to reach the NHL during that era.[3]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (1938–1956) rests on the following dated evidence. Born in Port Arthur in 1938, he played for local junior teams until moving to the Guelph Biltmores in 1956.[3]
Achievements listed in the profile:
- Won the Memorial Cup with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens in 1958
- Named the Western Hockey League Rookie of the Year for the 1958-59 season
- Selected to the Western Hockey League Second All-Star Team in 1958-59
- Won the Eastern Professional Hockey League championship with the Kingston Frontenacs in 1962-63
- Named the Most Valuable Player of the 1968 NHL All-Star Game
- Played 679 professional games over a 14-year career
- One of the last professional goaltenders to play without a mask[3]
References
- ↑ This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article on Bruce Gamble, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
- ↑ Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 25 May 1949, p. 5
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Bruce Gamble", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/1fcf4ef4-7035-4839-a20f-ff15a638337b (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.